rook. You will find Miss Miskin in that department,
ladies, if you wish to investigate."

Hester invaded the domain of Miss Miskin--the shoe-shop behind the other
counter--in the hope of finding something to put on her feet, which
should enable her to walk where she pleased. While engaged in turning
over the stock, without any help from Miss Miskin, who was imitating
Mrs Howell's distant manner with considerable success, a carriage drove
up to the door, which could be no other than Sir William Hunter's; and
Lady Hunter's voice was accordingly heard, the next minute, asking for
green sewing-silk. The gentle drawl of Mrs Howell's tone conveyed that
her countenance had resumed its primary expression. She observed upon
the horrors of the fire which had happened at Blickley the night before.
Lady Hunter had not heard of it; and the relation therefore followed
of: the burning down of a house and shop in Blickley, when a nursemaid
and baby were lost in the flames.

"I should hope it is not true," observed Lady Hunter. "Last night, did
you say?--Early this morning? There has scarcely been time for the news
to arrive of a fire at Blickley early this morning."

"It is certainly true, however, my lady. No doubt whatever of the
catastrophe, I am grieved to say." And Mrs Howell's sighs were
sympathetically responded to by Miss Miskin in the back shop.

"But how did you hear it?" asked Lady Hunter.

There was no audible answer. There were probably signs and intimations
of something; for Lady Hunter made a circuit round the shop, on some
pretence, and stared in at the door of the shoe-parlour, just at the
right moment for perceiving, if she so pleased, the beautiful smallness
of Hester's foot. Some low, murmuring, conversation then passed at Mrs
Howell's counter, when the words "black servant" alone met Margaret's
ear.

Hester found nothing that she could wear. The more she pressed for
information and assistance about obtaining boots, the more provokingly
cool Miss Miskin grew. At last Hester turned to her sister with a hasty
inquiry what was to be done.

"We must hope for better fortune before next winter, I suppose," said
Margaret, smiling.

"And wet my feet every day this winter," said Hester; "for I will not be
confined to the high-road for any such reason as this."

"Dear me, ma'am, you are warm!" simpered Miss Miskin.

"I warm! What do you mean, Miss Miskin?"

"You are warm, ma'am:--not that it is of an